Awards
2025 Public Service Award Winners

Recognizing the commitment and talent of all International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) volunteer leaders, the ISSCR Executive Committee is honoring members of committees, task forces, and working groups who dedicate tremendous talent and dedication to the ISSCR and its mission with the 2025 ISSCR Public Service Award. This is the first group award in the Society’s history and indicative of the ISSCR’s commitment to celebrate the excellence that fuels the tremendous accomplishments of the foremost global organization dedicated to stem cell science and regenerative medicine.

Learn more about the focus of ISSCR committees, task forces, and working groups that our recognized 211 volunteers contributed to over the last 12+ months.

2025 Annual Meeting Program Committee

The 2025 Annual Meeting Program Committee developed the scientific program for the ISSCR 2025 Annual Meeting in Hong Kong, 11-14 June 2025. It is a reflection of the stem cell research and regenerative medicine community at this moment in time, embracing the breadth of science in our community from stem cell biology through translation. Attendees will hear new and exciting voices in our field and a program of outstanding science and compelling conversation around policy, ethics, and regulatory topics.

Poster for ISSCR 2025 Annual Meeting featuring vibrant blue and purple abstract background with neon green and yellow text announcing the event in Hong Kong, June 11-14, 2025, co-sponsored by the University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

2026 Annual Meeting Program Committee

ISSCR 2026 will be held in Montréal, Canada, 8-11 July 2026. Committee Co-chairs Fiona Doetsch and Nozomu Yachie, along with committee members, have developed the thematic tracks: Clinical Applications, Capturing Development, Disease Modeling, Engineering Biology, Global Stakeholder Initiatives, and Somatic Stem Cells. Speaker invitations are in process. 

Logo for ISSCR 2026 annual meeting in Montreal, Canada, held from July 8-11, with colorful abstract geometric design and a city skyline background.

Early Career Advisory Committee

The committee hosted its first webinar on 11 March 2025, Communicating Science: Simplifying the Complex, which focused on science communication skills for early career scientists, from presenting your research at your poster session to exploring careers in communications. Planning is underway for another webinar later this year. The committee also organizes the annual Career Panel at the ISSCR Annual Meeting taking place on Friday, 13 June, Communicating, Connecting, and Leading through Your Science Degree, which will highlight the multifaceted opportunities available in stem cell science.

Panel discussion with five diverse speakers at a conference table, including Evan Graham speaking, and audience in the foreground.

Education Committee

The ISSCR Education Committee’s current priority is the Clinician Education Initiative, which aims to establish the ISSCR as the primary educational resource for both stem cell scientists and medical professionals. It aims to foster collaboration between researchers and clinicians, empower the medical community, protect patients from unproven treatments, and accelerate the translation of stem cell research into clinical practice.

The committee has launched a new open-access, on-demand Continuing Education course, Stem Cell Medicine: From Scientific Research to Patient Care, jointly provided with and accredited by Harvard Medical School. Additional disease-specific courses on eye disorders, Parkinson’s disease, oncology, and diabetes are scheduled to release over the next year. 

A woman with short gray hair and glasses, wearing a white lab coat, working on a laptop in a modern clinical setting.

Ethics Committee

The Ethics Committee works to connect scientific advances in the stem cell field with implications for the public and society. Their passionate work is critical to properly guide science as well as for their capacity to consider what new ethical frameworks are necessary as research advances.  Under the leadership of Erica Jonlin and Insoo Hyun, several committee members recently published a paper in Stem Cell Reports addressing what constitutes “adequate and appropriate scientific justification” for research involving human pluripotent stem cells, embryos, and related areas.

For ISSCR 2025, committee members organized the session, Emerging Ethical Issues with Neural Organoids, which explores emerging ethical issues in neural organoid research, including questions surrounding moral status, sourcing, and the use of in vitro and in vivo models.

The committee is also focused on enhancing ethics-related content across ISSCR websites. Going forward, the committee will address any gaps identified through its review of ethics-related content and consider developing new or supplemental materials as needed. Members often review and share feedback on ISSCR initiatives including the ISSCR Guidelines, Best Practices, and have contributed to the continuing education course developed by the Education Committee.

Finance Committee

Finance Committee members constantly monitor the financial health of the ISSCR – from cash flow to investments. This includes the ISSCR Annual Meeting and International Symposia hosted worldwide in Asia, Europe, and North and South America, along with a wide range of educational endeavors. Those priorities include public and regulatory policy initiatives that address the escalating, global concern of unproven stem cell clinics and ethics and standards for research and clinical trials using stem cells. Committee members also review the annual budget and tax audit and approve changes in spending priorities across all of the programs. One of the committee’s most important initiatives recently is lowering the cost of ISSCR membership and attendance at ISSCR meetings to foster a more diverse and inclusive global audience, while maintaining the Society’s firm financial position. There is a core focus on the need to ensure ISSCR has resources and operational staff to act on priorities identified by the membership and the Board of Directors.

Manufacturing, Clinical Translation, and Regulatory Committee (MCTR)

The mission of MCTR Committee is to facilitate translation of discovery research to clinical products. During the last 10 years, there has been great interest in creating stem cell therapies. One of the primary challenges for translation is navigating regulatory requirements. The committee is working to educate scientists about what regulators are looking for through meetings held with FDA, EMA, MHRA, and PMDA. Visit Regulatory Policy.

The committee is also assembling a global list of cell therapy manufacturers for use by ISSCR members working to develop cell therapies. A working group of committee members developed a detailed questionnaire for manufacturers to outline their capabilities and are creating a dedicated space on the ISSCR website for members to access this information. A supplemental document will also be created to support members in conducting risk assessments and due diligence when selecting a manufacturer.

Lastly, the committee is preparing to engage with a European regulatory agency through an Academic Briefing, continuing its commitment to dialogue and collaboration with regulators.

Membership and International Outreach Committee

The committee focuses on strategies to enhance members’ sense of community, awareness of member benefits, and to expanding membership and global engagement worldwide. With the go al of growing membership across the international community, the committee works with ISSCR staff to seek volunteers to translate ISSCR resources into various languages. Additionally, the committee works with ISSCR staff to ensure that the ISSCR Travel Awards that support attendance for students and post docs to attend the ISSCR Annual Meeting and reflect the scientific excellence, gender equity, and global diversity of the community.

Slide titled 'Basic Principles of Ethics' in Japanese, with text about foundational medical research and clinical medicine.

Nominating and Awards Committees

The Nominations Committee is responsible for identifying, recruiting, and reviewing candidates for the Board of Directors and presenting a slate for annual elections. The ISSCR election for officers and directors is typically held each year in March and results announced in April.

The mission of the ISSCR Awards Program is to recognize, incentivize, and elevate work in the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine. The Awards Committee oversees the process for the ISSCR portfolio of awards (Outstanding Young Investigator, Momentum, and Achievement).

Four people standing on a stage in front of a large sign for the International Society for Stem Cell Research. One woman is holding a glass award and smiling. The group is dressed in business attire and appears to be celebrating an achievement.

Public Policy Committee

The ISSCR’s Public Policy Committee actively supports stem cell research and funding, advocates for scientific integrity and ethical research practices, works to prevent the premature marketing of unproven stem cell-based interventions, and facilitates scientifically informed regulatory decision-making. The committee monitors global issues and ensures the Society and its membership have a voice in policy decisions that impact the field. The Lawrence Goldstein Science Policy Fellowship Program contributes to the Public Policy Committee objectives by training the next generation of aspiring policy advocates to become leaders in the field.  Visit Public Policy.

Two men in suits standing outside the U.S. Capitol building on a cloudy day, smiling at the camera.
Group of six professionally dressed individuals posing for a photo indoors, with flags in the background.

Scientific Programs Committee

The Scientific Programs Committee has been focused on restructuring and revising the composition of the Stem Cell Reports Editorial Board. Over the course of the past year, the committee selected the next cohort of Early Career Editorial Board (ECEB) members. First launched in 2022, the ECEB is an opportunity to mentor new group leaders in the review process and journal operations and contribute to journal activities. The committee has also established an Honorary Editorial Board for those who have served as advisors to the journal for 10 years or more.

The committee also considers subject matter for the symposia programming and seeks ways to drive synergies and opportunities between Stem Cell Reports and our meetings.

Cover of a scientific research journal titled 'Stem Cell Reports,' featuring a background image of a purple microscopic tissue sample on the left and an illustration of sperm cells on the right. The journal covers a 20-year conservation study of rodent spermatogenesis, published by CellPress and the International Society for Stem Cell Research.

Strategic Oversight Committee

The Strategic Oversight Committee (SOC) oversees all committees in the Society. The span of topics that the ISSCR addresses is very broad: ethics, education, clinical translation, manufacturing and regulatory affairs, scientific programming, public policy, finances, membership and international outreach, early career members and more. The SOC’s role is to reflect on the remits and the composition of all committees and to ensure that they each have the representation and expertise needed to fulfill their strategic goals. Recently, the ISSCR restructured committees to ensure they were better aligned with the current strategic priorities and mission of the ISSCR, while ensuring internationality of membership. ISSCR also expanded the committees to include early career researchers and countries previously underrepresented so that the Society hears diverse perspectives and better captures the needs of the field.

Best Practices Task Force

Best Practices for the Development of Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cellular Therapies is a comprehensive new resource designed to accelerate the translation of human pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived therapies into clinical trials and commercial use. Plans are to launch the open-access resource this summer.

Developed by leading international experts in cell therapy, this groundbreaking document outlines the key principles and decision points required to develop safe, effective, and regulatory- compliant PSC-derived products. Organized into seven sections, the guidance offers jurisdictionally neutral information on topics ranging from cell line selection and raw material use to regulatory considerations, preclinical studies, and clinical trials.

A webinar hosted in April, Best Practices for PSC-based Therapies is available on demand for ISSCR members.

A group of diverse professionals standing behind a podium at The University of Edinburgh Conferences and Events, smiling for a group photo.

Embryo Models Working Group

As research with stem cell-based embryo models advances rapidly, there is a growing need for updated guidance to accommodate scientific progress. To address this need, the ISSCR created the Embryo Models Working Group, tasking it with developing a white paper published in Stem Cell Reports that summarizes the state of the science, categorizes different types of embryo models, and proposes updates to the 2021 ISSCR Guidelines for Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation. A webinar held in April, ISSCR Embryo Models Working Group Summary of Findings and Recommendations, shared group’s recommendations and how they will be incorporated into a forthcoming revision of the ISSCR Guidelines. The webinar is available on demand for ISSCR members.

Blue background with microscopic images of cells and cellular structures in lighter shades of blue.

2024 and 2025 International Symposia Organizing Committees

ISSCR International Symposia bring together specific scientific communities or disciplines (e.g., developmental biology, translational, tissue-specific research) to share their science, make connections, and exchange the ideas that drive the field forward. 

In 2024 and 2025, ISSCR International Symposia programs include: Stem Cells in Human Development and Disease, Cincinnati, PSC-Derived Cell Therapies: Clinical Advances, NextGen Technologies, and the Path to Success, Copenhagen, Neural Stem Cells: Capturing Complexity and Plasticity from the Cell Organism, Athens, and AI and Digital Biology Symposium in Seattle, and Accelerating PSC-Derived Cell Therapies: Starting with the End in Mind in Boston. Visit Upcoming Programs.

A crowded scientific conference with numerous people engaging with poster presentations on research topics in a large indoor venue.
A large conference room filled with people attending a presentation, with chandeliers hanging from a high, decorated ceiling, and a large digital screen displaying a slide titled 'Stem Cell Reports'.

Congratulations to all of our committee, task force, and working groups on winning the 2025 Public Service Award!
Explore all the members below.